PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hank Cross (ranked 7415 p4p, 530 weight class) and Oshima Masato (ranked 7745 p4p, 536 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cross
vs
Masato

180 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

172 cm
20
174 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hank Cross!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Oshima Masato!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cross tries to clinch there but Masato circles away.
A little jabbing left from Masato on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Some bone on bone action there as Cross checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cross tries to clinch up but Masato circles away and keeps his distance.
Masato rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cross moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cross just misses with a punch to the body.

Cross rushes Masato and presses him up against the cage.
Cross throws a punch but it's blocked by Masato.

Masato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Cross gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Cross avoids a wild elbow strike from Masato.
Cross misses with a body punch.
Masato on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cross putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Masato in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cross scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cross creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cross stops a takedown attempt from Masato.

Cross decides to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masato seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross wants to stand but Masato is controlling the position.
Cross looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cross escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Masato gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Masato trying to control the position from guard on top but Cross is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cross is trying to control the position but Masato postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cross is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cross closes the distance and pushes Masato back into the cage.
Masato blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Cross creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Cross misses with a body punch.
Cross misses with a punch on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cross blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Still in the clinch, Cross scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cross lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Masato backwards.
Masato tries to break the clinch but Cross is controlling the position.
Cross lands a right hand that snaps the head of Masato backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Cross dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cross has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Cross.
Cross lands a left hand that snaps the head of Masato backwards.
Cross softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Cross lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Good body shot from Cross.
Cross lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Masato backwards.
I was talking to Cross's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Cross is trying to pull guard but Masato has him pressed against the cage.
Cross lands a left hand.
Masato working hard to break the clinch.
Masato lands a nice elbow.
A right hand to the body from Cross.
Cross trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Masato avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.
Masato jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cross walks away with a smile on his face. Masato gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cross fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato throws a series of punches but Cross avoids them all with ease.
Cross is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Masato can do to turn this around?
Masato gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Cross drives through with a takedown into guard.

Masato scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Masato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masato thuds his right hand into Cross's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Masato swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cross counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Cross stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cross wants it to stay on the feet.
Cross tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Masato paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Masato let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Masato looks to land a combination but Cross avoids it well.

Cross rushes Masato and presses him up against the cage.
Cross lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Masato creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a shoulder strike.
Masato is breathing heavily.
Masato holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Masato avoiding damage as Cross throws knees to the body.
Cross tries to pull guard but Masato won't allow it.
Cross lands with a light punch inside.
Hank Cross has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Cross lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cross tries to land a knee to the head but Masato blocks with his arms.

Cross pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cross misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cross throws a series of punches but Masato avoids them all with ease.
Cross moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masato looks to land a combination but Cross avoids it well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Masato is defended easily by Cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Cross dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cross decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Masato has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Cross is on him like a limpet, forcing Masato back against the cage.
Masato's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Masato stalls.
Cross missing with knees to the body.
Cross misses with some punches.
Cross lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Cross misses with some punches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short left from Masato.

Masato wants the takedown. Cross is fighting it off but Masato persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Cross's guard against the cage.
Cross looking to hit a scissor sweep but Masato is one step ahead there.
Cross can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Masato controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Masato avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cross will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Masato cracks Cross with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Masato wants to pass the guard but Cross is keeping the position.

Masato stands and steps away. Cross gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Cross closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Masato looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cross ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Cross feints a jab promting Masato to slip. Cross then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Masato slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Cross throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Masato.
Cross misses with a two punch combination.
A slow jab from Masato misses its intended target.
Cross went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Cross slips a straight right by Masato.
Masato dodges the punch combination from Cross.
Masato swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Hank Cross did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Cross's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cross lands a jab to the nose.

Cross has closed the distance and engaged Masato in a clinch.
Masato blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A shot in the inside from Cross.
Masato blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Masato tries to pull guard but Cross won't allow it.

Cross pulls guard.
Cross wants to hit a switch here but Masato passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cross there!
Cross is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masato controlling the pace for now.
Oshima Masato has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato blocks Cross's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Masato sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Masato tries to control but Cross wriggling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Masato takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cross regains half guard.

Masato is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Masato controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Cross had his way with Oshima Masato in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cross blocks a low kick nicely.
Cross scores with a jab. Masato acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cross tries to clinch but Masato moves out of range.
Masato feints a counter leg kick.
Cross scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Masato scores with a three punch combo!

Cross clinches.

Cross breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cross dives in and grabs Masato's left leg, looking for a takedown. Masato pushes down on Cross's head and hops out.
Cross tries to clinch up but Masato circles away and keeps his distance.
Cross is looking to clinch but Masato is avoiding it.
Masato avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Masato looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Masato just misses with a punch to the body.
Masato ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cross moves away.
Hank Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.
Masato slips a jab and a cross from Cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cross was well out of range. Poor timing from Masato.
Masato misses with a jab, cross combination.
Masato takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Masato loads up on a big right hand but Cross slips the punch.
Masato fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cross tries to clinch but Masato moves out of range.
Cross tries to clinch up.
Masato fails to land with a series of punches.
Hank Cross is winning the standup battle so far.

Cross gets a clinch.
Cross pushes Masato back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cross gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Masato working hard to break the clinch.
Cross working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Oshima Masato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cross lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cross is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Masato is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross crunches a lovely knee into Masato's ribcage.
Masato is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in the clinch, Cross scores with a nice short uppercut.
A shot in the inside from Cross.
Cross lands a nice shot to the body.
Cross softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Masato fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cross scores with a shoulder strike.
Masato wants to stall.
Cross lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Masato or not.
Cross lands a shoulder strike.
Cross scores a nice knee to the body.
Masato throws an elbow but it misses.
Masato on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Cross lands a good knee to the midsection. Masato won't want to take too many of those.
Cross works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Cross working some nice short punches in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Cross showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cross, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 50:46
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 50:46
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Cross!
Hank Cross managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!), into his post fight interview.